This day in history 03 February
Images
Woolfold: Classic Cam Camwell branch line station study showing Woolfold, with the only loop on the Holcombe Brook branch. As can be seen, unlike the main line, the loop here was never electrified, and so was effectively goods only. All trace of Woolfold station has now gone, but the small viaduct just beyond the platforms, although demolished, has since been replaced by a bridge carrying the trackbed cycle trail. View down the gradient towards Bury in 1952.
Holcombe Brook: That ramp looks treacherous. A clear but cold day at Holcombe Brook terminus shows the small station building, at the top of a steep ramp, sitting at right angles to the track and behind, on Holcombe Hill, the 128 feet high Peel Tower. This was built in memory of Sir Robert Peel, founder of the Metropolitan Police, who was a son of Bury. Opened in 1852 the tower is still a local landmark. See image [[23868]] for a modern day comparison of this scene.
Holcombe Brook: Winter gricing. On a cold February day in 1952, two enthusiasts wait between trains at the Holcombe Brook terminus during a visit shortly before closure. The little station building sat at right angles to the line in an elevated position overlooking the platform. The raised area now forms part of the village pub car park but the old platform and goods yard have been occupied by a small development of shops.
Holcombe Brook: Arctic conditions at Holcombe Brook is Cam Camwell's description on the back of this picture, even though there is some thawing on the ground. The steam heating is certainly warming the single autocoach as 50731 stands in front of the station building and retaining wall waiting to return to Bury.
Woolfold: There is still some snow on the ground as 50731 pulls its autocoach into Woolfold station on its way from Bury Bolton Street to Holcombe Brook, the scene captured by Cam Camwell and his pals in February of 1952. This picture, looking towards Tottington and Holcombe Brook, shows the buffers of the elevated sidings in the goods yard behind the station building, all now swept away.
Sunnywood Halt: 50731 looks to be working hard with its single coach from Bury, near Sunnywood Halt, but the Holcombe Brook branch was a 1:50 climb for most of its length and 1:40 on the final mile where goods trains were limited to seven wagons if unassisted.
Holcombe Brook: Snow on the ground but the young fireman has his sleeves rolled up so the cab of the L&YR 2-4-2T must be nice and warm. 50731 stands at the Holcombe Brook terminus with the push pull coach in February 1952 after another run up the branch from Bury Bolton St.
St Margarets Shed: N15 0-6-2T 69150 stands alongside V3 2-6-2T 67669 in the sidings along the south side of St Margarets shed in February 1962. 69150 would be withdrawn in October that year and cut up at Inverurie Works the following February. The V3 was already 'stored', at this stage having been officially withdrawn 5 months earlier. It was cut up at Darlington Works the following month.
Murrayfield: McIntosh 3F no 57550 stands at Murrayfield station on 3 February 1962 with the Peebles Railtour.
Leith North: With interested observers hanging onto the iron railings on Lindsay Road, 57550 prepares to depart from Leith North on 3 February 1962 with the SLS Peebles Railtour. (The tour had started from Princes Street and would terminate at Waverley.) Note the traffic on Lindsay Road this particular Saturday afternoon - consisting of a bus!
Leadburn Summit Siding: View through the driver's cab of the 07.54 Edinburgh-Galashiels via Peebles train shortly after leaving Leadburn on the last day of service, Saturday 3rd February 1962. The location is south of Leadburn Summit.
Innerleithen: Front end view from the 9.05am Edinburgh-Peebles-Galashiels DMU as it crosses the 9.58am ex-Galashiels reverse working at Innerleithen station on Saturday 3rd February 1962, the last day of scheduled passenger services over the line.
Peebles Goods: SLS Farewell to Peebles Tour 3rd February 1962
4.5pm Galashiels to Edinburgh DMU (SC51127/56319) approaching Peebles and passing the Peebles Goods loop.
Peebles [2nd]: Looking north over Peebles station as the 2.16pm DMU arrival from Edinburgh, ultimate destination Galashiels, draws to a halt at the single platform on 3 February 1962, the last day of passenger services on the line.
Leadburn: Local residents, railway enthusiasts and one eejit turn out at Leadburn station on 3 February 1962 to witness the visit of the SLS Farewell to Peebles railtour. The special, hauled by J37 0-6-0 no 64587, ran from Princes Street over the Peebles Loop, returning north via Galashiels to terminate at Waverley.
Galashiels: A Galashiels to Peebles and Edinburgh bound Gloucester RCW unit at Galashiels on 3rd February 1962, the last day of passenger services over the line. A J38 or J39 0-6-0 is passing through on the main line.
Peebles [CR]: Looking west from under the impressive overall roof of the former Caledonian Railway station in Peebles, 12 years after the last passenger train ran in 1950.
Peebles [CR]: The large yard area and former grand Caledonian station building at Peebles on a dull day in February 1962. This was eight years after complete closure and 12 years since the last passenger train had called. View is east towards the Tweed Bridge, part of which can be seen in the left background just beyond the station.
Rosewell and Hawthornden: A rather blurry image, but an interesting moment on the last day of operation on the Edinburgh to Galashiels route via Peebles. Taken from a northbound Gloucester RC&W DMU approaching Rosewell and Hawthornden, where ex-NB J37 64587 is pausing at the station whilst heading in the other direction with the SLS 'Farewell to Peebles' railtour.
St Margarets Shed: Gresley J38 0-6-0 no 65929 photographed on St Margarets shed in February 1962.
Rosslynlee: Looking back over the crossing towards Rosslynlee station on 3 February 1962 showing J37 0-6-0 no 64587 with the Farewell to Peebles railtour. The Peebles Loop was closed to passenger traffic south of Hawthornden Junction two days later.
Pomathorn Halt: The SLS 'Farewell to Peebles' railtour with J37 0-6-0 no 64587 in charge captured shortly after leaving Pomathorn en route to its next stop at Leadburn on Saturday 3rd February 1962, the last day of passenger services over the line. Pomathorn paper Mill (closed in 1975) can be seen in the left background see image [[23614]].
Haymarket Shed [2nd]: B1 4-6-0 no 61245 Murray of Elibank on Haymarket shed in February 1962.
Dalry Road Shed: D49 62712 Morayshire standing in the gloom in a corner of 64C Dalry Road shed in February 1962, having been withdrawn from Hawick the previous year. The locomotive was subsequently preserved by the SRPS at Bo'ness.
Leith North: Platform view east towards the buffer stops at Leith North on 3 February 1962 as Dalry Road shed's 57550 prepares to depart with the Peebles Railtour. The proceedings are being watched with interest by a group of young enthusiasts from behind the iron railings on Lindsay Road.
Rosslynlee Hospital Halt: SLS Farewell to Peebles Tour 3rd February 1962
64587 at the miniscule and short-lived Rosslynlee Hospital Halt.
Leadburn: SLS Farewell to Peebles Tour 3rd February 1962
64587 at Leadburn, where the special was the last passenger train to call there.
Cardrona: The SLS Farwell to Peebles railtour of 3 February 1962 photographed at Cardrona during a photostop. The locomotive is J37 0-6-0 no 64587. See image [[30217]]
Pomathorn Halt: The SLS 'Farewell to Peebles' railtour on the level crossing at Pomathorn on 3 February 1962. The special is hauled by J37 0-6-0 no 64587 see image [[28603]]. The large building in the left background is Pomathorn paper mill, which closed in 1975.
Peebles Shed [CR]: Looking north east over the remains of the turntable that stood alongside the former Caledonian station on the south bank of the Tweed in Peebles. On the north side of the river stands Tweedside Woolen Mill with the tower of Peebles Old Parish Church beyond. The photograph was taken in 1962, eight years after the last freight trains ran east of Broughton.
Peebles Goods: SLS Farewell to Peebles Tour 3rd February 1962
64587 at Peebles Goods. Although not noted in the itinerary, the SLS Special was put into Peebles Goods to allow the 4.5pm Galashiels to Edinburgh DMU to pass. It has been established that this was the last train to call at Peebles Goods.
Peebles Engine Shed: The driver of the 0744 Edinburgh-Peebles-Galashiels DMU exchanges single line tokens with the signalman at Peebles Engine Shed signal box on 3 February 1962, the last day of passenger services on the line.
Dalry Road Shed: McIntosh 2P 0-4-4T no 55124 photographed on Dalry Road shed in February 1962, approximately 5 months after official withdrawal by BR. The locomotive was cut up at Arnott Young, Troon, in September 1963.
Walkerburn: Walkerburn station viewed from the rear of the 11.15 Galashiels-Peebles-Edinburgh train on the last day of service, 3rd February 1962.
St Margarets Shed: B1 4-6-0 no 61359 seems to be peering into the gloom of St Margarets shed in February 1962. The locomotive was withdrawn by BR at the end of the following year.
Rosslynlee: Class J37 0-6-0 no 64587 pauses on the crossing alongside Rosslynlee station on 3 February 1962 on its way south with the Farewell to Peebles railtour over the Peebles loop. The line was closed to passenger traffic south of Hawthornden Junction two days later. District Operating Inspector David G Kerr, who accompanied many of these specials, is standing on the left of the picture with his back to the crossing gates.
Leith North: McIntosh 3F no 57550 of 64C Dalry Road shed stands at the CR Leith North station on 3 February 1962 with the Peebles Railtour. The station, opened as Leith in 1879, became North Leith in 1903, then Leith North in 1952, the name it held when it finally closed in April 1962, some 2 months after the photograph was taken. All has since been transformed here, with much of the area given over to new roads, housing and retail units and with the large Ocean Terminal development located off to the left. Note also the view on the right looking east along Lindsay Road, with traffic consisting of a bus, two cars (parked) and a bike!
Murrayfield: McIntosh ex-Caledonian 3F 0-6-0 no 57550 makes a photostop at Murrayfield on 3 February 1962 with the SLS Peebles Railtour.
Peebles Goods: The 2.17pm departure from Peebles passes Peebles goods yard en route to Galashiels on 3 February 1962, the final day of passenger services over the line. At the south end of the yard, just beyond the signal box, an NBR chord line (closed 1959) curved away from Peebles Junction on the left to the right, crossing the Tweed to link up with the Caledonian Railway terminus south of the river.
Dalry Road Shed: Withdrawn McIntosh 2P 0-4-4T no 55124 stands alongside Dalry Road shed in February 1962. View is south east with the tenements of Dundee Street forming the backdrop. Today (2011) the St Cuthbert's Co-op building beyond the locomotive is a large bathroom centre and the photographer would be standing on what is now Edinburgh's West Approach Road.
Haymarket Shed [2nd]: Gresley V3 2-6-2T no 67620 photographed on Haymarket shed in February 1962.
Rosslynlee Hospital Halt: The SLS Farewell to Peebles railtour makes a photostop at Rosslynlee Hospital Halt on 3rd February 1962. J37 0-6-0 no 64587 is in charge.
Peebles [2nd]: The SLS 'Farewell to Peebles' railtour is the centre of attention at Peebles station on 3 February 1962. The special was hauled by the genuine J37 0-6-0 no 64587 see image [[28603]].
Angling Club Cottage: View from the rear of the 11.15 Galashiels-Peebles-Edinburgh train between Clovenfords and Thornielee (on the last day of service, 3rd February 1962) showing how high the line climbed above the Tweed Valley. The view is near the site of the former Angling Club Cottage (1898), a basic halt built to serve members of the Edinburgh Angling Club who fished from a boating pool on the Tweed below. It was abandoned shortly after the end of World War II. Note also, in the middle distance, the tell-tale stretch of modern concrete sleepers - a sure sign that the line was about to close!
Pomathorn Halt: View north as class J37 no 64587 stands at Pomathorn at the head of the SLS Farewell to Peebles railtour on 3 February 1962, with the locomotive straddling the level crossing over the B6372. The imposing building in the background is the former Pomathorn paper mill, currently (2009) in use as a storage facility. Pomathorn station closed in 1962 and is now a private house see image [[6277]].
Peebles [2nd]: SLS Farewell to Peebles Tour 3rd February 1962
64587 at Peebles station.
Peebles [2nd]: A pair of young enthusiasts (aka the photographer's sons) about to leave Peebles station off the 0744 Edinburgh - Peebles - Galashiels DMU on 3 February 1962, the last day of passenger services over the line.
Leadburn: The Leadburn signalman exchanges tokens with the driver of the 07.54 Edinburgh-Peebles-Galashiels train on the last day of service, Saturday 3rd February 1962. The Leadburn platforms survive to this day.
St Margarets Shed: BR class Y9 (Ex-NBR G class) 0-4-0ST no 68095 on shed at St Margarets on 3 February 1962. This was the last example of the class to be withdrawn at the end of that year and can now be seen on display at the SRPS, Boness, having been repainted in NBR bronze green passenger livery. See image [[24229]]
Galashiels: A Gloucester DMU bound for Edinburgh via the Peebles route, photographed at Galashiels on 3rd February 1962, the last day of passenger services over that line.
Sleaford: A cold, wet Wednesday afternoon at Sleaford station in February 1974, as a DMU prepares to leave on a service to Nottingham.
Little Steeping: Closing the manually operated crossing gates at Little Steeping, Lincolnshire, In February 1989. The location, seen here looking north east, is just under 8 niles from the coast and the terminus at Skegness. The signal box was one of a number of such structures which suffered from Fenland subsidence. (The box closed in 1989 following the installation of automatic half-barriers at the crossing.)
See query 2249
Wolverhampton Low Level: Long unused and disconnected from the rail network, Wolverhampton Low Level Station is seen here looking west from Sun Street towards Oxley in February 1997. Following closure to passengers in early 1972 see image [[28115]] the station had been converted for use as a parcels depot and later provided accommodation for the Divisional Engineering staff. The listed main station building is now earmarked to become part of a mixed retail and residential development.
Kintore [1st]: View west from the west end of the former Kintore station looking towards the junction for Alford. There was a bay platform to the left by the goods yard. The land to the left here has been redeveloped for housing. As a result, the new station is planned to be in the distance within the 'V' of the junction.
Udny: Udny station had a substantial goods yard (now a football pitch). This 1997 view looks north from the former signalbox (foreground, left) towards the station platforms and goods yard. Sadly the station buildings have not survived and housing now stands on the site of the southbound platform building.
Boat of Kintore Level Crossing: Boat of Kintore Level Crossing looking to Inverness. The former signal box was located to the right here. The lifted up (eastbound) track was also to the right.
Monymusk Woodyard: Monymusk Woodyard was east of Monymusk station and was rail-served. The line west ran to the left here and a siding ran ahead and a little to the right. The woodyard was to the right and the base of a hopper remains to the right in this 1997 view.
Mintlaw: Mintlaw looking towards Maud Junction in 1997. At that time the building was in a good state of repair, although out of use. It is now much more of a ruin and heavily overgrown here.
Maud: A 1997 view north east over the former station at Maud Junction. The turntable pit and goods yard are in the foreground and the four platforms of the junction station beyond with the buildings now in other uses. The photograph was taken from this angle for comparison with the photograph on the back cover of 'The Story and Tales of the Buchan Line'.
Auchnagatt: View looking south at the former Auchnagatt station.
Tillyfourie: View from the goods loading bank at Tillyfourie looking to the station, and Kintore, in 1997.
Alford: View towards Kintore at the rebuilt Alford station. The locomotive shed was ahead and the carriage shed still stands behind the camera, now in use as an engine shed for the Grampian Transport Museum's narrow gauge line.
Maud: Peterhead platforms at the former Maud Junction station, viewed from the north.
Maud: Fraserburgh platforms at the former Maud Junction station, viewed from the north.
Rathen: View looking north at the former Rathen station.
Strichen: Looking north at the former Strichen station.
Kintore [1st]: View east of the former Kintore station from the loading bank in 1997. The former goods station has been obliterated and is now The Carriages. As a result, the planned station cannot be reopened at the original site and will be further to the west in the 'V' of the former junction.
Fraserburgh Shed: The former Fraserburgh locomotive shed in 1997. To the right was the station (now the B9033), goods yard (industrial estates and rough ground) and the harbour which is still in use. See image [[47834]]
Pitlurg: Looking north over the remains of Pitlurg station. A station cottage is on the right and the goods yard was to the left. There was a loop here. There were grounded carriages nearby, back in 1997.
Mormond: View north at Mormond in 1997. The trackbed had only very recently been turned into a footpath.
Rathen: Not much left to go ... in February 1997 only two stretches of the F&BR trackbed were left to be converted into footpaths: Rathen to Mormond and north of Brucklay to Maud. This was the display board at Rathen which announced the new walking route's near completion.
Cranmore: No 705 on the East Somerset Railway on 3 February 2005. This engine has a Scottish past. It was the Yoker Power Station pug before being purchased to run on a failed tourist railway in the Orkneys circa 1978. It then arrived on the Strathspey Railway in January 1979, following which it moved on to Brechin for a while. It was later bought by a Wiltshire farmer's son who restored it to run on the East Somerset Railway. Now (February 2011) out of use, the locomotive is awaiting a new owner. It has even appeared on E-bay. See image [[18853]]
Haymarket: A GNER Kings Cross - Aberdeen HST poses in front of the original E&G building at Haymarket on 3 February 2007. The Caledonian Alehouse on the left could face demolition if current plans for a Haymarket tram/bus/rail interchange come to fruition. See image [[23206]]
Talsarnau: This Cambrian Coast station opened with the line in 1867 and is viewed looking south towards Tygwyn and Harlech.
Pensarn: Opened with the Cambrian Coast line in 1867 and from 1885 known as Llanbedr and Pensarn but it reverted to plain Pensarn in 1978. Pictured looking northwards towards Llandanwg and Harlech.
Llanbedr: Cambrian Coast line station opened as Talwrn Bach Halt in 1923 but renamed Llanbedr in 1978 and close to (now disused) RAF airfield of the same name. Photo taken looking north towards Pensarn.
Llandecwyn: Llandecwyn Halt from the adjacent road looking westwards towards the estuary and showing the stilt construction supporting the platform and shelter of this small Cambrian Coast line halt.
Llandecwyn: This tiny Cambrian Coast halt opened in 1930 and overlooks the Traeth Bach estuary. It was built on stilts alongside the embankment. This view is looking northwards towards the Pont Briwet timber toll bridge that also carried a small public road to Penrhyndeudraeth. Llandecwyn was rebuilt to modern standards when the bridge was renewed in 2014 See image [[56684]].
Llandanwg: Opened as Llandanwg Halt in 1929. A tiny Cambrian Coast line station that looks like it has been lifted straight off a model railway. View south towards Tywyn in February 2008.
Tygwyn: View south from Tygwyn level crossing towards Harlech, the destination of much of the school traffic that keeps these tiny Cambrian Coast stations open. Tygwyn Halt was opened in 1927 and serves a couple of small settlements nearby.
Penrhyndeudraeth: The station at Penrhyndeudraeth opened with the Cambrian Coast line in 1867. This is a view looking back to Pont Brewit toll bridge and Llandecwn in February 2008. The station house is now a private residence.
Marsden: Snowy conditions in the valley to the east of Marsden station as 170306, on a Transpennine Manchester to Hull service, runs down towards Huddersfield. The Huddersfield Narrow Canal can be seen below the railway line.
Marsden: Grab shot of the snowy conditions in the cutting at the eastern end of Standedge Tunnel taken from a Transpennine Class 170 on a Manchester to Hull service. The snow is just above the rails of the loop but all trains that morning were running normally.
Leeds: 158817 leaves Leeds with an eastbound Northern Rail service on the morning after the heavy February snowfalls, albeit all rail services in the area were operating normally.
Leeds: 91017, with National Express branding over GNER livery, is seen newly arrived from Kings Cross in the snow at Leeds on 3rd February 2009.
Leeds: That's far enough. 91117 has arrived at the eastern end of Leeds station on one of the twice hourly NEEC services from Kings Cross and will soon return. Although the wires continue they only go to Neville Hill Depot as the short missing link to the ECML south of York has still not been electrified.
Leyland: A First TransPennine service to Edinburgh speeds north along the WCML on the approach to Leyland on 3 February 2011.
Leyland: Looking north towards Farington Junction from Platform 2 at Leyland on 3 February as a Northern service formed by unit 180108 heads towards Preston.
Leyland: Not many services call at platform 4 at Leyland, it being on the Up Fast line, but during the middle of the day a few of the hourly services to Buxton or Hazel Grove do use it. On 3 February 2011 Northern unit 150139 picks up a fair number of passengers on a service to Hazel Grove.
Nunnington: Remote Nunnington station can never have generated much traffic and closed to passengers in 1953. Like nearby Helmsley and Hovingham Spa the station has been converted into a home, seen here from the road that crosses the old cutting and leads to the village around a mile away.
Barassie: 380001+380102 approaching Barassie on 3 February 2012 with the 16.08 from Glasgow.
Barassie Junction: Virgin 'Thunderbird' no 57304 Gordon Tracy, on hire to GBRf to handle the 334020 drag to Brodie Rail Works, Kilmarnock. The locomotive is seen on 3 February 2012 leaving Barassie sidings with a train from the Kilmarnock works consisting of 'translator' vehicles for Glasgow Works and coaches for SRPS Bo'ness.
Barassie: Freightliner class 70 Heavy Haul locomotives have reappeared on 'blending coal' runs from Hunterston to Killoch. 70013 handled the morning run on 3 February 2012 and was photographed passing Barassie en route to Killoch.
Edinburgh Waverley: The new Princes Street entrance to Waverley station on 3 February 2012.
Sinnington: A view along the platform at Sinnington looking east towards Pickering on the line from Helmsley. Closed with the line in 1953, the station survives as a private residence with the trackbed incorporated in the garden. Behind the camera the brige over the beck has been removed. There are some outstanding pictures of the old Ryedale stations on the Disused Stations website.
Hovingham Spa: Although it closed to passengers at the end of 1930 Hovingham Spa station, on the Gilling to Malton line, survives in good condition as a private residence. Freight traffic continued until 1964. View towards Malton from the site of the old level crossing.
Barassie: Virgin 'Thunderbird' no 57304 Gordon Tracy arrives at Barassie on 3 February 2012. It will run round in the reversing siding before continuing on its journey along the branch to Kilmarnock.
Helmsley: The old platforms at Helmsley now form part of a conservation area open to the public. The last service train called in 1953, although excursions continued to arrive occasionally for another ten years. Behind the camera the station building, behind a substantial fence, lives on as a private residence complete with original signal box. See image [[18821]]. View towards Pickering.
Solway Viaduct: Both embankments of the Solway Viaduct, and the one mile gap that separates them, can be seen in this picture looking from Bowness in England across to Annan in Scotland. Evidence of the tidal range of the Solway Firth can also be seen. From the road behind the camera the long closed Bowness station can also still be seen See image [[42010]]
Silloth: Silloth in February 2013, looking towards the still operational port. The original platform can be seen on the right. Station Mews reportedly incorporates part of the original station building but this isn't apparent from the outside. See image [[39700]] for the same location in 1964, the year of closure.
Wigton: From the Wigton station footbridge the Innovia cellophane factory complex can be seen. This featured in a Michael Portillo railway journey along the Cumbrian Coast although the internal sidings no longer receive rail traffic. View towards Maryport in February 2013
Wigton: Looking west from Wigton towards Aspatria and Maryport in February 2013. The still operational BR signal box is sited some distance beyond the station itself. Just to the left of the platform shelter the roof of one of the buildings in the Innovia factory complex can be seen. This is still rail connected but doesn't receive any traffic at the present time.
Nuneaton: South to Glasgow! This Birmingham - Glasgow Voyager was diverted via Nuneaton and Leicester instead of its normal route north of Birmingham. As it passed through platform 7 non-stop - an unusual move even for freight trains - the young lady behind the second pillar had very wisely stepped away from the platform edge. The industrial buildings on the right are built on an area formerly used for sidings. Network Rail - reinstated Leicester-Birmingham flyover line
Dalston: Dalston, looking towards Wigton and Maryport on a Sunday morning in February 2013. Beyond the platforms, near the overbridge, is the access to the old goods yard, now an oil terminal served by trains from Grangemouth.
Wigton: Unlike neighbouring Dalston, Wigton has lost its original station buildings and only has a small metal shelter on each platform. That said, it is in a very tidy condition. Sunday scene viewed towards Dalston and Carlisle from the station footbridge. There are just three trains each way on Sundays running only between Whitehaven and Carlisle in the afternoon and early evening.
Silloth: Looking east towards the station throat at Silloth, which was by the overbridge. This view was taken from mid way along the long platform that survives but has been built on. See image [[27189]] for the same location at the time of closure.
Threlkeld: The remains of Threlkeld's island platform in 2013, forty one years after final closure. View looking east towards Troutbeck and Penrith with the council depot that occupies the old goods yard also visible. The platform was subsequently buried under spoil when the depot was rebuilt. See image [[51224]]
Kirkbride: The station building at Kirkbride on the Silloth branch, closed in 1964 and now a private residence. The trees stand on the old platform and trackbed. [With thanks to Tavish Roberts]
Nuneaton: I believe they call this the built environment. Due to temporary closure of the Derby-Birmingham route see image [[41853]], this Birmingham-bound Voyager has just gone the 'Great Way Round' via Leicester; and is passing through platform 6 on its way to the WCML flyover.
Port Carlisle: After a short and unprofitable life, famously served by a horse drawn tram for much of its existence, the Port Carlisle branch closed completely in 1932. However, over 80 years later the station platform can still be seen. This view looks towards the buffers but the final stretch of trackbed has been infilled to make a car park for the Port Carlisle Bowling Club, albeit with the platform edging stones still visible.
Dalston: The oil terminal at Dalston still sees regular trains from Grangemouth and on this quiet Sunday morning in February 2013 the unloading siding was full. From the road bridge just south of the terminal the station platforms can be seen, as can a large stock of 60' rails that have presumably been recovered following a recent relaying operation.
Nuneaton: The view east from platform 7 at Nuneaton in February 2013. This barren site once supported a pub (the Grazier's Arms). The pub was demolished to build flats; but since property values have fallen by up to 30% in recent times, new flat building is untenable. The debate is now whether to build a drive-through fast food outlet, or a new rear entrance to the station. (Either scheme would affect the 'informal' station parking demonstrated by the cars just beyond the wall.)
Burgh-by-Sands: Burgh-by-Sands station closed with the Silloth line in 1964. On the west side of the village this bridge still crosses the old line but local homeowners have extended their gardens over the trackbed.
Bowness: The former station at Bowness in February 2013. Closed to passengers for over 90 years, it can still be seen at the south side of the road from Bowness-on-Solway village that crosses the trackbed at this point. On the other side of the road the Solway viaduct remains can be seen See image [[41983]].
Threlkeld: The Keswick branch closed in 1972, just before the East Lancashire line to Rawtenstall, but with no freight traffic to keep the infrastructure in place it was lost before preservationists could move in and the oft talked about reopening would require massive funding. These are the remains of the island platform at Threlkeld in 2013, minus the stone signalbox and station building that were demolished soon after closure.
Dalston: A quiet Sunday morning at Dalston, looking north towards Carlisle, with the original Maryport & Carlisle railway building visible on the opposite platform.
Quintinshill Loops: Plaque at Quintinshill - February 2014 see image [[4071]].
Garswood: A service for Liverpool Lime Street arrives at Garswood station on 3 February 2015.
Galashiels: Tracklaying at Galashiels on 3 February 2015 with the train alongside the new Galashiels station.
Galashiels: Gala Day! Galashiels on 3 February 2015 sees the tracklaying train with GBRf 66761 and 66741 in charge nearing its ultimate destination.
Galashiels: Looking across the A7 Ladhope Vale, Galashiels, on 3 February 2015 as the tracklaying train continues to make steady progress south towards Tweedbank.
Galashiels [1st]: View south from Station Brae, Galashiels, towards Currie Road bridge on 3 February 2015. The rail team advances towards Tweedbank.
Bowland: 66614 at the head of the ballast train at the site of Bowland Station on 3 February.
Bridgeton Central Junction: 318250 passes the former Bridgeton Central Junction as it climbs east out of the cutting at High Street in February 2015. The trackbed of the old line to Bridgeton Central has seen some vegetation clearance recently, but much of the former route is still covered with the trees and shrubs which grew unchecked after the line was lifted in 1987. See image [[7978]]
Thatto Heath: A Liverpool to Blackpool service runs non-stop through Thatto Heath station on 3 February 2015. Electrification is well advanced but there is a big push now on with full line possessions on Sundays until mid March in an attempt to recover from earlier delays.
Kilnknowe Junction: View south towards Kilnknowe Junction, Galashiels, on 3 February 2015.
Gallowgate Tunnel: Heading east away from High Street station on 3 February 2015, unit 334035 crosses the cutting leading to the former Bridgeton Central station. After the old station closed in 1979, the line was maintained for access to the Bridgeton EMU maintenance depot until 1987, following which the tracks were lifted.
Roby: A lineup of road-rail aerial platforms for use on the Liverpool - Manchester electrification project parked on the reinstated but as yet unused platform 4 at Roby station on 3 February 2015. View west towards Liverpool Lime Street.
Gallowgate Tunnel: Looking along the partially cleared trackbed of the former route to Bridgeton Central on 3 February 2015. View is east, with the line dropping down from High Street station behind the camera to enter Gallowgate Tunnel. Running above the tunnel is the line between High Street and Bellgrove.
Eccleston Park: The platforms of Eccleston Park station on the Wigan to Huyton line on 3 February 2015, looking roughly south west as a Liverpool bound service passes through.
Huyton: A Liverpool to Warrington service departs from platform 3 at Huyton on 3 February 2015. Photographed from platform 4, which is not yet usable as there is a vital component missing to the east of the station. Purchase of a small strip of land is to be finalised by Network Rail if Plan A is going to work.
Leith Walk: Rusty rails. The Powderhall waste transfer station is now out of action.
Pyle: 66118 on Margam to Dee Marsh train passing what was the site of Pyle West Jct which was the western end of the triangle with the Porthcawl Branch at Pyle. Closed on the 1st of February 1965.
Pyle: The Newwork Rail track measuring train returning to Derby after a run from Old Oak Common to Swansea (3/2/17)
Cheddleton: Overcoaled, overwatered, and over here. Aberbeeg's 2-8-0T 4277 and USATC 5197 indulge in a little competitive smoking at Cheddleton on 3rd February 2018.
Cheddleton: I would say that 08633 is a faded beauty; but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. This decidedly rural depot is the nerve centre of the Churnet Valley Railway.
Leek Brook Junction: This signal box at Leek Brook Junction was derelict and boarded up for years. Now that it is restored, it looks like it has always been that way. We need to do something about the signallers' transport; an Austin 10 and a 3-speed Raleigh would seem more in period than an Audi and a Zafira. 3rd February 2018.
Ipstones: GWR 2-8-0T 4277 runs round its train in the loop at Ipstones on 3rd February 2018. A thin coating of snow rests on the Staffordshire moorlands.
Consall: USATC 5197 makes a dramatic sight as it enters Consall station with the 16.53 to Cheddleton. The steam gala featured two American engines and one from Swindon via Aberbeeg.
Interiors: A frank admission of ownership, seen on the Churnet Valley Railway. Let's hope that this cordial agreement does not come to a sudden Holt.
Cheddleton: Well, you could hang your coat on it. This girder spotted in the Churnet Valley Railway engine shed is definitely better too long than too short.
Kingsley and Froghall: Who says steam engines are bad for public health? GW4277, a 2-8-0 still carrying an Aberbeeg shed plate, demonstrates its ability to provide public sauna facilities at a Churnet Valley steam gala.
Crouch Hill: Brand new 710 269 departing from Crouch Hill station with a truncated London Overground GOBLIN service from Gospel Oak to South Tottenham, on 3rd February 2020. Services are currently suspended between South Tottenham and Barking due to a freight train derailment between Walthamstow Queens Road and Leyton Midland Road stations that occurred at 6 a.m. on 23rd January 2020, which damaged two and a half miles of track. Network Rail has established that 39 new pieces of rail, each 126 metres long, will need to be installed along the affected section along with the replacement of 5,300 concrete sleepers, 900 wooden sleepers and 10,000 tonnes of ballast. Services are not expected to resume for several weeks; a replacement bus service is in operation between Walthamstow Central station (not actually on the GOBLIN) and Barking. Passengers between Walthamstow and South Tottenham have been advised to use the LUL Victoria Line between Walthamstow Central and Seven Sisters (close to South Tottenham) and which serves Blackhorse Road, another of the GOBLIN stations without a service at the moment.
West Hampstead: The original 1888 entrance to the London Overground West Hampstead station, on 3rd February 2020. A new entrance immediately to the left in conjunction with the rebuilding of the station at a cost of £12.5 million was completed in October 2019 but on the day of this photograph the original was still staffed and selling tickets, even though it is due for demolition. However, there is no longer any access from here to the platforms, both stairwells having been demolished, so anyone buying their tickets here has to come out and use the new entrance anyway. So they might just as well have used it in the first place!
Largs: View from the site of the old goods yard (the end of the Tesco car park) towards Largs station during a dry spell on a stormy winter afternoon, 3rd February 2020.
West Hampstead: The new entrance to the London Overground station at West Hampstead, completed in October 2019, seen here on 3rd February 2020. The works were to install lifts to provide step free access to the platforms, in place of the rickety old stairs (now demolished). I wasn't the only one taking photographs, to the bemusement of station staff.
Gospel Oak: 378201, with a London Overground service to Stratford, departing from Gospel Oak, on 3rd February 2020. The bay platform for the LO GOBLIN service to Barking is on the left; however, as at the date of this photo, trains are only running on this service as far as South Tottenham, due to a freight derailment east thereof that damaged the track, which is likely to be out of action for several more weeks as Network Rail repair things.
Lingerwood Junction [2nd]: One of the few surviving relics of the Easthouses Tramway, looking south at the point where it passed below Lingerwood Road, just 50 yards beyond the level crossing carrying the mineral line [[71581]]. This was my third visit to the site - the first time I missed it, the second time I managed to spot it through the vegetation but it was too overgrown to photograph. This time, thanks to the effects of winter defoliation and a pair of garden shears from the boot, I managed to get a picture. The old cutting was filled in long ago, with a ploughed field behind the camera and housing up ahead, including the land where Lingerwood Pit and its associated brickworks once stood. For a view of the bridge from the old trackbed see [[72395]].
Nawton: A short section of trackbed remains east of Nawton station, partly in a shallow cutting and then on a low embankment up to where the solum has been obliterated across the section running towards the former Stoney Cross rail overbridge that crossed the A170 en route to Kirkbymoorside. This view looks south in February 2021, from a short by-passed undulating section of road at the edge of the village, to the most easterly section of extant trackbed.
Nawton: A short section of trackbed remains east of Nawton station, party in a shallow cutting and then on a low embankment up to where the solum has been obliterated across the section running towards the former Stoney Cross rail overbridge that crossed the A170 en route to Kirkbymoorside. This view in February 2021 looks in a westerly direction towards the former Nawton station a short distance ahead.
Nawton: A short section of trackbed remains east of Nawton station, partly in a shallow cutting and then on a low embankment up to where the solum has been obliterated across the section running towards, and beyond, the former Stoney Cross rail overbridge that crossed the A170 road en route to Kirkbymoorside. This view looks easterly in February 2021, to the end of the extant section, with the A170 running across by the tree line seen ahead.
Picardy Place [Tram]: Excavation at the Picardy Place tram stop on 3 February 2022. Earlier that day contractors unearthed a short length of the old system's tram rail and kindly placed it for my photograph.
Edinburgh Waverley: Contrasting front ends at Waverley on 3rd February 2022. 221132 is on the rear of the 15.08 CrossCountry service to Plymouth and 801218 is on the 15.00 LNER to Kings Cross.
Edinburgh Waverley: A brace of LNER Azumas, 801229 and 801215, at platforms 6 and 5 in Waverley on 3 February 2022.
Uffington: Just how do you pronounce that? Freightliner (low geared) 66606, westbound from Appleford FHH to Whatley Quarry with empty wagons, passing Uffington at 1356 hrs on 3rd February 2022. Rep No 665G.
Edinburgh Waverley: The 10.45 LUMO service from Kings Cross, formed by 803002, arrives at platform 10 in Waverley on 3rd February 2022.
York Place [Tram]: Tram 267 waits to leave the York Place tram stop on 3rd February 2022, a few days before its closure to be replaced by Picardy Place, a few metres beyond.
York Place [Tram]: Farewell York Place. I haven't photographed an under-threat tram stop before but York Place saw its last customers on 9 February 2022, to be replaced by Picardy Place, a few metres away on the Newhaven extension. Tram 277 is seen leaving the terminus on 3 February.
Picardy Place [Tram]: The ground is being prepared for Picardy Place tram stop on 3rd February 2022. The mast to the left is the anchor point for the existing overhead wire.
Events
Events from the chronology which occured on this day. This generally lists events before 1995, the creation of the website.
| Year | Companies | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1847 | Scottish Central Railway Edinburgh and Northern Railway | Agreement for use of the Scottish Central Railway between Hilton Junction and Perth General by the Edinburgh and Northern Railway. |
| 1934 | Polmaise Nos 3 and 4 Colliery | Firedamp explosion kills 3 men |
| 1941 | Letterkenny and Burtonport Extension Railway | LR_>Letterkenny LR to Gweedore re-opened to goods. |
| 1958 | North Berwick Branch (North British Railway) | With services becoming an hourly diesel train, North Berwick Shed closed. |
| 1958 | Corstorphine Branch (North British Railway) Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway North British Railway North Berwick Branch (North British Railway) | Class 100 DMUs introduced on the 2nd_>Corstorphine 2nd to North Berwick service. |
| 1971 | Kilbarchan Loop (Glasgow and South Western Railway) | Cart Junction to Kilbirnie (excluded) closed to freight. |
| 2010 | Glasgow Airport Rail Link | Formally cancelled in the Scottish Government^s budget. |
News
These are old news items which which occured on this day. This generally lists events after 1995, the creation of the website.
| Year | Companies | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Scottish rail police volunteer squads set to double [Scotsman] | A SQUAD of special constables is to be recruited to beef up policing on Scotland^s rail network. |
| 2005 | RAILSCOT Website^s 10th Birthday | This website was started in February of 1995 when there were far fewer websites and far less railway websites. Almost no railway companies had websites and a search for "Great North Eastern Railway" would deliver a user to the Great North of Scotland Railway page of this site! |
| 2005 | Is trams plan on right lines or taking city off track? [Scotsman] | THE congestion-charging referendum will play a pivotal role in the future of the controversial £473m project. |
| 2005 | Work begins on Powharnal/Gaswater Branch | Work has began to re-instate the Powharnal/Gaswater branch. |
| 2006 | Rugby fans face chaos on road and rail [Scotsman] | RUGBY fans heading to Murrayfield this weekend for the Six Nations clash between Scotland and France, are facing travel chaos as road and rail maintenance projects get under way. |
| 2009 | Majority of rail network open for business[Network Rail] | Over three quarters of the rail network is open and available for train services today, with almost all major routes open this morning. Network Rail staff worked exhaustively overnight to clear the rail infrastructure for train services. |
| 2010 | Rats attack the railways [Telegraph] | Rat attacks are causing chaos on the railways, with hundreds of trains breaking down as the rodents gnaw through vital cables. |
| 2010 | Inspection failures before crash [BBC News Article] | Network Rail is blamed for a catalogue of inspection failures before a bridge collapse which caused a freight train to derail. |
| 2011 | MSP call for more powers to help allay rail fears [Stirling Observer] | AN MSP has called for greater Scottish powers to tackle the problem of freight trains on the Stirling to Alloa line. |
| 2011 | Waverley Steps make temporary exit [Network Rail PR] | Waverley Station’s Princes Street entrance will be closed to the public from next Thursday (February 10 2011) as a multi-million-pound project to refurbish and modernise the historic station steps gets underway. |
| 2011 | Ayrshire train upgrade skids off rails [Ayrshire Post] | A £200 million rail upgrade has hit the buffers – due to faulty trains. And furious passengers say their service on the busy Ayr to Glasgow line is worse than ever. |
| 2012 | Sickie train strike is off [Sun] | RAIL union chiefs have axed plans for a strike ballot over a train driver carpeted for pulling a sickie to watch Rangers. Aslef leaders ditched the vote for industrial action in support of James Foster following a backlash among staff. |
| 2012 | ScotRail conductor returns to work after YouTube video [Rail.co] | A ScotRail conductor has returned to work after he featured in a YouTube clip which has since been watched by millions. The video showed an incident on board the 21.33 Edinburgh Waverley to Perth service at Linlithgow on Friday 9 December 2011. Alan Mitchell, 63, said he was delighted to be back after being on leave since the incident. |
| 2012 | Bletchley derailed train ^going too fast^ says Network Rail [BBC News] | A freight train engine which derailed on the West Coast mainline at Bletchley may have been going too fast, Network Rail has said. The line has partially reopened after being closed for more than 12 hours, causing major delays. Rail passengers are warned to expect further delays, which could run into the weekend. The Freightliner locomotive appeared to have approached a set of points at high speed, a Network Rail spokesman said. He said that this caused the tracks to buckle, damaged wooden sleepers and brought down some overhead cables. ^You are meant to approach points at a relatively low speed,^ the spokesman said. ^But it looks like that move was taken at a high speed and, as a result, the train has derailed.^ |
| 2014 | Tube strike: Walkout to go ahead as talks fail [BBC News] | A strike on London Underground is due to start later after talks ended without agreement. Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) and the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) are due to walk out for 48 hours from 21:00 GMT - and again on 11 February. |
| 2015 | The solution to congested railways? Turn train tracks into high-traffic ^busways^ [Independent] | Catching the coach rather than taking the train could help solve the UK’s commuter gridlock, under radical plans to rip up rail lines and use the land for express “busways”. Creating a network of high-speed bus and coach road would save the country billions of pounds and cut fares for passengers, according to a new report released today. [From Mark Bartlett] |
| 2016 | Night tube: Breakthrough as RMT urges members to accept deal [Telegraph] | The biggest London Underground union is to recommend acceptance of a pay and conditions deal for an all-night Tube in London in a big breakthrough for the planned service. The executive of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union decided to urge members to accept the latest offer from LU, clearing a big hurdle for an all-night Tube. [From Mark Bartlett] |
| 2017 | Test trains reach 352km/h on Bretagne-Pays de la Loire high-speed line [IRJ] | THE Bretagne-Pays de la Loire high-speed line moved another step closer to the start of operations at the end of January, when TGVs reached the maximum testing speed of 352km/h. The test programme requires validation of safe operation at 352km/h, 10% above the maximum commercial operating speed of 320km/h. Testing began in November 2016 and speeds have been incrementally increased over the last two months. During February testing will be carried out on the connections to the conventional network at Connerr, Sabl-sur-Sarthe, La Milesse and Laval. [From Richard Buckby] |
| 2017 | The last shift at Ebbw Vale [BBC News] | For more that 200 years the town of Ebbw Vale, situated in an isolated valley in south Wales, owed its existence to the heavy industries of coal and iron that emerged there in the late 18th Century. But by the late 1990s a collapse of the international steel market led to eventual closure in 2002. Photographer Joseph Murphy was on hand to document the last men to work at the plant, and to mark the 15th anniversary of its closure has spent the past year asking them to recall their time at the steelworks. |
| 2017 | Scottish rail infrastructure strategy launched ahead of government High Level Output Specification [Rail Technology] | The rail industry has come together to launch a major new infrastructure strategy for Scotland, which sets out how the sector can benefit the countrys economy. The report, published by the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), was developed by experts across Scotlands railway network, including Network Rail, ScotRail, cross-border operators and freight companies. |
| 2017 | Site for new Skelmersdale railway station revealed [BBC News] | The preferred location for a town^s first railway station in 50 years has been revealed. Lancashire County Council has earmarked land on the former Glenburn Sports College and Skelmersdale College. The sports college closed in August, while Skelmersdale College^s Westbank campus, owned by Newcastle College, is also unused. The decision follows a comparative study by Network Rail of both sites and one near the Concourse shopping centre. Skelmersdale^s original railway station closed to passengers in 1956. |
| 2018 | Pop up railway stations could test passenger demand, say Greens [Scotsman] | Pop-up rail stations should be built to test passenger demand at new stops, the Scottish Greens have urged. The party said temporary halts would help make the case for permanent new stations. Its MSPs are lobbying Scottish Government officials to consider the novel approach as part of a deal struck in return for supporting the minority SNPs 2018-19 budget. Finance secretary Derek Mackay has agreed to consider a new pipeline fund of up to £2 million to develop new stations and lines. |
| 2018 | Skipton-Colne railway: Study to look into reopening line [BBC News] | A study has been commissioned to look into the reopening of a railway line between Skipton and Colne. The 12-mile route, connecting Lancashire with North Yorkshire, last ran in 1970 and if reopened, it could lead to new services between Lancashire, Skipton and Leeds. The study is set to be completed later this year. Transport secretary Chris Grayling said the line could provide a ^vital link across the Pennines^. |
| 2019 | Inspection works to take place at Aberdeen railway bridge [Evening Express] | Railway bridge inspection works are to take place later this month. Cars will not be allowed to drive within 10 metres of either side of Station Road in Bucksburn, at either side of the railway bridge, overnight. |
| 2019 | Replica of Wallyford^s ^pug^ train coming to the village [East Lothian Courier] | A replica of Wallyford^s short steam engine or ^pug^, which transported coal and bricks to a train on the main East Coast rail line, is now on track after receiving planning consent. |
| 2020 | Cancellations on Fife Circle double [Dunfermline Press] | Cancellations on the Fife Circle line doubled in 2019 to a total of 2,007 “ an average of 38 trains per week. |
| 2020 | Nitshill Road to close overnight for vital rail bridge refurbishment [Network Rail] | Nitshill Road, south of Glasgow, will close overnight on eight consecutive Saturdays while Network Rail engineers carry out work to repair and strengthen the railway bridge overthe A726. |
